Max Verstappen Blames Red Bull for Hungarian GP Struggles

Max Verstappen expressed frustration with Red Bull’s performance during the Hungarian Grand Prix stating that the team “need to do a better job” and that there’s no need to apologize for his heated radio messages. The reigning world champion repeatedly criticized his team over the radio, using strong language, as he finished fifth following a collision with Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen’s outbursts stemmed from what he saw as strategic errors by Red Bull which dropped him behind Hamilton and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Despite a significant car upgrade, Red Bull’s performance failed to challenge McLaren’s one-two finish with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Verstappen’s frustration grew because he believed the team failed to adapt and deliver an optimal strategy.

The collision with Hamilton which occurred while Verstappen was trying to overtake in the race’s final stages, led to a stewards’ review. Verstappen claimed Hamilton caused the collision by changing his line under braking while Hamilton argued he was simply following his normal line. The stewards agreed with Hamilton and took no further action. Max Verstappen rejected suggestions that his frustrations influenced the collision, insisting the move was legitimate.

He criticized the team for their strategy which left him in a challenging position throughout the race. This situation led to overheating tires and difficulties in overtaking. Verstappen’s championship lead shrank to 76 points and Red Bull’s advantage in the constructors’ standings fell to 51 points over McLaren. Verstappen’s comments reflect his dissatisfaction with the team’s performance and strategy, emphasizing the need for improvement as the season progresses.